Why Marijuana Should Not Be Decriminalized Right Now

Chris Diaz, 22, suffers from life-threatening asthma. Five years ago, he moved from Texas to California to pursue alternative treatments, and got himself a medical pot card. The treatment was working, he says. In fact, everything was going well until two years ago, when a visit to Diaz’ dying grandmother threatened to send him to jail for life.

The Texas highway patrol pulled over Diaz for expired plates, searched the car and found 14 grams of weed and hash. Because of Texas' harsh hash laws, Diaz faced up to 99 years in prison for intent to sell. After nine months behind bars, including 111 days in solitary confinement, without mail, phone calls or any human contact whatsoever, his public defender came to offer him a plea deal. Terrified of a life sentence, Diaz pled no-contest to face three, instead of 99 years, behind bars. He also gave up his right to appeal.

Now, Diaz is fighting to convince legal authorities that the plea deal was coerced, and to remove the felony conviction that could haunt him for life. In the meantime, he waits in prison, unable to access his medication.

 

Five Years for MS Sufferer

Jon Ray Wilson, 39, suffers from multiple sclerosis. To slow the progression of his condition, he grew and used marijuana. Then, he went to jail for it.

In November 2009, Wilson was sentenced to five years in prison for possessing and manufacturing marijuana plants. The judge barred Wilson from telling the jury that he grew pot to relieve his symptoms, and did not allow an expert witness to testify on the benefits of marijuana for MS patients.

Granted entry into the Intensive Supervision Program, Wilson was released from prison this June. For 16 months, he must follow an array of rules that include wearing an electronic monitor, meeting curfew and holding a job. Cruelly, he is also required to pass drug tests, even though he qualifies for New Jersey’s medical pot program.

In January 2010, New Jersey legalized medical marijuana for a variety of conditions, including multiple sclerosis. Two and a half years later, however, no dispensaries have opened.

This is the person you think should be in prison.

Because you believe in a failed Prohibition.

 

Police made 853,838 arrests in 2010 for marijuana-related offenses, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s annual Uniform Crime Report, released today. The arrest total is among the highest ever reported by the agency and is nearly identical to the total number of cannabis-related arrests reported in 2009.

According to the report, marijuana arrests now comprise more than one-half (52 percent) of all drug arrests in the United States.

Of those charged with marijuana law violations, 750,591 (88 percent) were arrested for marijuana offenses involving possession only. The remaining 103,247 individuals were charged with “sale/manufacture,” a category that includes virtually all cultivation offenses.

 

You are forgetting that possession itself is a felony if you get arrested more than once.

 

Drug arrests were the single largest category of arrests, accounting for more than 10% of all arrests in the country. They were followed by drunk driving arrests (1.41 million) and larceny arrests (1.27 million). More than three times as many people were arrested for drugs than for all violent crimes combined (552,000) and nearly as many as for all property crimes combined (1.643 million).

 

---The dishonesty did not start with the present debate. That can of worms was opened when Nixon pushed for marijuana to be classified as a schedule one drug (along with LSD) in an effort to take subversives off the street. Monday you got a slap on the wrist. Tuesday you were hauled off to jail. Schedule one drugs are classified as having no medical use, clearly a blatant lie. If the government wants to be taken seriously on this issue they should not have pushed legislation that casts doubt on their judgment. The persistence of such ridiculous classification makes the federal government look like a joke, in my opinion.

 

Hmm, sounds like there's more to the story, like the fact that he probably was a dealer. Nobody smoking for medical purposes (which is a BS construct anyhow) needs to carry around large quantities in their car. I do appreciate the story, though, because the grandmother was the real hero, and would probably be the first to say she's seen things that prove he was a dealer. He's lucky he's getting out in 3. I hope he punches a correctional officer in the face and it turns into a dime.

 

Of course you do.

 

I've got no pity and I hope all these sad cases you present spend as much time in jail as possible. There's no medicinal value for marijuana that pharmeceuticals don't serve as a better remedy. We have medicines that relieve pain, increase appetite, and remedy all other ailments that the Pothead Left claims that marijuana alleviates. There's absolutely no need to smoke pot. These people just want to get high without getting arrested. You people have no clue how transparant your motives are.

 

I've got no pity and I hope all these sad cases you present spend as much time in jail as possible. There's no medicinal value for marijuana that pharmeceuticals don't serve as a better remedy. We have medicines that relieve pain, increase appetite, and remedy all other ailments that the Pothead Left claims that marijuana alleviates. There's absolutely no need to smoke pot. These people just want to get high without getting arrested. You people have no clue how transparant your motives are.

 

---They shouldn't be arrested for smoking pot, and there is nothing wrong with wanting to get high. Whether or not there are alternative drugs providing the same or similar benefits that marijuana provides to those prescribed cannabis, does not matter. If I prefer marijuana to pharmaceutical counterparts, that is my choice. If I prefer the drawbacks of regular cannabis use to those brought on by pharmaceuticals, that is my choice, again. The use of marijuana does not need to be validated.

---It should be legalized, taxed, regulated and then people should mind their own business.

 

I am an American voter. Social policy IS my business.

 

---I agree, but I think you've overextended the boundaries of social policy. As it pertains to taxes, regulations and public safety I agree. I agree with you when you say that employers and landowners should be allowed to assess marijuana use when vetting potential employees or tenants. However, as far as people using marijuana within the confines of the laws (when they are ultimately changed), people need to mind their own business.

---You're tone when saying things like "these people just want to get high and "pothead" this, "pothead" that, is what I disagree with.

 

What a very good Puritan statement. Your motivation is showing. You are opposed to adults being allowed the decision on whether to enjoy themselves by using drugs. I am really surprised you are not trying to get alcohol and dancing banned.

Let us address each of you statements:
Five Years for MS Sufferer

Jon Ray Wilson, 39, suffers from multiple sclerosis. To slow the progression of his condition, he grew and used marijuana. Then, he went to jail for it.

In November 2009, Wilson was sentenced to five years in prison for possessing and manufacturing marijuana plants. The judge barred Wilson from telling the jury that he grew pot to relieve his symptoms, and did not allow an expert witness to testify on the benefits of marijuana for MS patients.

Granted entry into the Intensive Supervision Program, Wilson was released from prison this June. For 16 months, he must follow an array of rules that include wearing an electronic monitor, meeting curfew and holding a job. Cruelly, he is also required to pass drug tests, even though he qualifies for New Jersey’s medical pot program.

In January 2010, New Jersey legalized medical marijuana for a variety of conditions, including multiple sclerosis. Two and a half years later, however, no dispensaries have opened.

This is the person you think should be in prison.

Because you believe in a failed Prohibition.
1) I've got no pity and I hope all these sad cases you present spend as much time in jail as possible.

Jon Ray Wilson, 39, suffers from multiple sclerosis. To slow the progression of his condition, he grew and used marijuana. Then, he went to jail for it.

In November 2009, Wilson was sentenced to five years in prison for possessing and manufacturing marijuana plants. The judge barred Wilson from telling the jury that he grew pot to relieve his symptoms, and did not allow an expert witness to testify on the benefits of marijuana for MS patients.

You have 'no pity' for a person with MS who choses to 'self medicate'. That is of course your right- no one is entitled to pity. However in my opinion first and foremost this is a waste of government resources. There is no evidence that this man harmed anyone in anyway. But our government will have spent thousands of dollars arresting, trying, jailing and now monitoring a person who is no threat to society. You think we should use our government resources jailing those who are harming no one but themselves- I don't.

There's no medicinal value for marijuana that pharmeceuticals don't serve as a better remedy. We have medicines that relieve pain, increase appetite, and remedy all other ailments that the Pothead Left claims that marijuana alleviates.

Really? And you base this on your experience as a medical doctor? Let discuss some of these
1) Pain- specifically migraine. Migraines

Abortive medications can be taken by self-injection, by mouth, or by nasal spray. These forms of medication are especially useful for people who have nausea or vomiting related to their migraine, and they work quickly.

Abortive treatments include the triptans, which specifically target serotonin. They are all very similar in their action and chemical structure. The triptans are used only to treat headache and do not relieve pain from back problems, arthritis, menstruation, or other conditions. People with certain medical conditions should not take these medications.

Almotriptan (Axert)
Eletriptan (Relpax)

Frovatriptan (Frova)

Naratriptan (Amerge, Naramig)

Rizatriptan (Maxalt)

Sumatriptan (Alsuma, Dosepro, Imitrex, Sumavel, Treximet)

Zolmitriptan (Zomig)

Since I have a family member who has suffered from migraines for years, I have some familiarity with migraines. Some of these medicines are almost miracles now. When they work.

But they don't always work. Most of them are administered orally- which is a problem when suffering from extreme nausea caused by migraines. The alternatives are injections.....or a spray. Sprays are not available for all forms of the medicine. The injections.....are hard on everyone. I don't like giving injections.

When the prescribed medicine does not work- and that happens all too often- 2 or 3 tokes gives some immediate relief- it doesn't take away the headache completely- but it reduces the pain- and eliminates the nausea- almost immediately.

For the nausea alone it is almost a miracle medicine. You don't want to believe it- that is just your Puritanism dominating your rational mind. I have seen the results.

"Increase Appetite"- what works better with fewer complications than marijuana? Seriously- what? What is this drug that works as fast or is any better other than being legal? We know that marijuana is an effective appetite stimulant....we know it is fast acting...and it combats nausea. Give me the alternative and explain why it is superior.

There's absolutely no need to smoke pot.

Of course there is no 'need'. But why should they be denied from using a drug that alleves their symptoms? What is the compelling reason for society to make this illegal?

"These people just want to get high without getting arrested."

First of all....what is wrong with people getting high without getting arrested? People are allowed to get high on alcohol as long as they don't do so in an illegal way- what in your mind makes it wrong- other than Puritan morality about people indulging in vices-that makes it wrong?

Secondly- you are just wrong. While many, many people do indeed exploit the medical marijuana laws in order to indulge in a drug that most Americans have tried, there are indeed sick people who are medicating with marijuana. I have seen and known them. Why are you against sick people using drugs that bring relief to them?

 

As I am an American voter.

We know Prohibition was a failure. And marijuana Prohibition is one too.

Government should not be in the business of arresting people for using one social drug- but not the other.

 

Yeah, cons say they want a smaller less intrusive government. They want the government to stay out of their business, but they sure love being in others private matters, like their freedom of the pursuit of happiness. And they love being in our bedrooms too. These holier than thou hypocrites just make me want to puke.

 

I just figured something out. You don't know how to quote somebody multiple times. I was wondering why you were making individual posts out of every statement I made on a different thread. Here's how you do it. You first highlight and copy (control c) the person's tag, that is, [ QUOTE=saintmichaeldefendthem;1062033737 ] (only without the spaces). Then after the first statement you want to quote, you type in a [ /quote ] (only without the spaces) Then you type your response to that statement. After your response, you paste another copy (control v) of the tag and then type in a [ /quote ] after the second statement and so on. The content between each tag and [ /quote ] will appear in a separate box. So your post would look something like this before you submit it:

[ QUOTE=saintmichaeldefendthem;1062033737 ]
I've got no pity and I hope all these sad cases you present spend as much time in jail as possible [ /quote ]

(your response)

[ QUOTE=saintmichaeldefendthem;1062033737 ]
There's no medicinal value for marijuana that pharmeceuticals don't serve as a better remedy. [ /quote ]

(your response)

[ QUOTE=saintmichaeldefendthem;1062033737 ]
We have medicines that relieve pain, increase appetite, and remedy all other ailments that the Pothead Left claims that marijuana alleviates [ /quote ]

(your response)

[ QUOTE=saintmichaeldefendthem;1062033737 ]
There's absolutely no need to smoke pot. [ /quote ]

(your response)

[ QUOTE=saintmichaeldefendthem;1062033737 ]
These people just want to get high without getting arrested [ /quote ]

(your response)



Only make sure to take out the spaces, I added the spaces so the HTML codes wouldn't actuate. When you click on submit, your post will appear with individual quote boxes in a point by point response. I hope this helps you.

 

"Social policy" is just another way of saying authoritarian control. You are not God, you have no business trying to bend others to your will.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed..."

The purpose of government is to secure our rights, not tell us what to do and what not to do. Take your social policy and shove it...

 

I don't agree with his social policy at all and think this nation will be far better off when we throw off the shackles of the social engineer autocrats, but he still has a right to hold those social policies and fight to make them law.

 

Fight to make them law? Social policy has no place in the law.

 

That's just about the most fair minded thing I've heard in a long, long time.

 

In your opinion and mine, but the thing about opinions is that they are not absolute. There is always going to be an alternative opinion and that opinion deserves just as much freedom and consideration as your own.

 

Freedom of consideration but not enforcement. Our liberty should not be at the whim of the majority, nor should the constitution need to be constantly altered in an attempt to prevent the majority from plowing the minority again. There is no reason minority opinion holders/actors should be punished through law because the majority wishes to impose their will. The law needs to exist for a good reason. Punishing social minorities isn't a good reason, and is often denounced when done in foreign nations. All opinion should be considered, and if there is actual logical reason for something to be done then so be it, but because 60% don't like what 40% of the nation does isn't a reason for the 60% to place law preventing the 40% from doing what they want to do. That's not liberty, that's just majority rule, and something we need to get past. Again we should not need constitutional protections to keep the majority from steamrolling the minority, but clearly our society is not to the point where we can just leave each other alone. There are too many authoritarians who wish their will imposed by the force of the government and too many vote hungry politicians who will make their will law.

 

Couldn't everything you just said be turned right around to refer to the minority of social engineers? They consistently score behind in public opinion polls now.

 

Social engineering involves force, letting people do what they wish isn't force, it's the opposite.